Another ‘heartbreak’ for Chiz’s girl?

 Curtain-raisers:

 Is Ai-Ai delas Alas (photo) infanticipating? I guess the reaction of most people to that is, “What!?! At age 48?” I say, “Why not? Yes, at age 48!” I know of a 50-year-old woman who got pregnant and she gave birth to a healthy, normal baby. When texted by Funfare Update for comment, Ai-Ai confirmed, “Delayed kasi ako at feeling ko pregnant ako. Baka lang ha.” If and when, Ai-Ai’s boyfriend Jed Salang would be a father for the second time (he has a love child from a past relationship). Reminded that she once said that she observes celibacy when she’s doing a movie (Kung Fu Divas, with Marian Rivera), Ai-Ai said, “That was before. Iba na ang policy ko ngayon.” How soon will she know that she’s indeed on the family way? “My doctor told me to wait for a while. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Sa ngayon, ‘delayed’ lang ako, hindi pa siguradong buntis.”

 So you think that the legal battle between a popular couple is long over after a (reluctant) out-of-court settlement? Think again. Scheduled today is a yet another hearing, this time for a new case filed by the wife against her ex-husband for him to give up his right to be with their son on weekends…for reasons that only the wife knows. Oh my, won’t this endless court battle adversely affect the son? Will the boy grow up loving one parent and hating the other? It’s sad because this early, the boy (a carbon-copy of the father) is growing up to be a celebrity in his own right.

 Sad news: Our colleague and good friend Mar d’Guzman Cruz died yesterday afternoon after being comatose at the ICU of the Philippine Heart Center since Sunday when he was diagnosed to be suffering from septic shock due to liver infection. No wonder Kuya Mar was missing from his RMN/dzXL radio program that Sunday night. In a text message to friends, Mar’s daughter Precious said, “Please pray for the repose of our father’s soul.” Kuya Mar marked his birthday only two weeks ago.

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Mon Tulfo’s column yesterday in Inquirer sent shock waves throughout showbiz because of an explosive revelation that could jeopardize Sen. Chiz Escudero’s reelection bid and send in limbo Chiz’s widely-publicized (read: Public Display of Affection) romance with Heart Evangelista.

According to Mon, he got the story from somebody close to Heart’s mother who blatantly called Chiz “bastos” because Chiz wouldn’t even greet her or as much as stand up when she chanced upon him at Heart’s condo unit which is located just above her parents’ own unit in the same building in Makati City.

Heart’s mother (as per her friend’s account to Mon) also complained that Chiz’s driver went to Heart’s parents’ unit to get Heart’s clothes but Heart’s mother objected, saying Heart could simply go down to her parents’ unit when she has to dress up. Anyway, the driver ended up being roughed up by Heart’s father. A Funfare Update source said that a case has been filed, but failed to clarify who filed what against whom.

Heart’s mother also suspected Chiz of being a sulsulero who caused a reported rift between Heart and her parents.

Mon said that when he contacted Chiz for comment, all Chiz would say that he was raised on good manners by his parents.

Oops! Does this mean another heartbreak for Chiz’s girl? Is it a déjà vu case reminiscent of Heart’s abortive romance(s)? Do Heart’s parents (especially her mother) disapprove of Heart’s romance with Chiz like they reportedly did when Heart was going steady with Jericho Rosales and then Daniel Matsunaga? (Between Daniel and Chiz came Sid Lucero who was hurt when Heart told him to “cut it off” already because her mother didn’t like him.)

Now, could it be true that Heart is deadset on marrying Chiz whose marriage to Christine “Tintin” Flores (with whom he has twins) was annulled? Are Heart and Chiz planning to live together?

Chiz is mum on the matter. Somebody close to Chiz told Funfare Update that Chiz would rather have Heart sort out her problem with her parents. But for how long can he remain silent on an issue that’s bound to be used against him in the raging campaign?

Meanwhile, let’s listen to what Heart says in a statement she sent to Funfare Update:

“This isn’t the first time this happened. This happened when I was with Jericho (Rosales). At that time, I gave in to my parents’ wishes because I wanted them to be happy. Because I am the youngest in the family, my parents became overprotective which is totally understandable. And at that time, I was still young and thought it is wise to obey their wishes. But now that I am 28 years old, I believe I already have the right to decide how to live my life, who to love and to be with.

“Having said that, I am issuing this statement to set the record straight and to correct whatever inaccuracies may have been said. Despite this incident, I still believe in my family, and the love and respect I have for my parents remain undiminished. We will find a way to fix whatever needs to be fixed, and we shall come out of this stronger and wiser.

“Chiz and his family have shown me nothing but goodness and affection. There is no reason for them to get dragged into this incident, and I thank Chiz for his love and continuing support.

“Everyone deserves to be happy, and I am now at the point in my life where I am very happy. It is my wish and prayer that at this point of my life, my loved ones would be happy for me as well.

“And for those who may have other plans and who may be plotting to use this incident as an issue in the political campaign, please don’t. It is already a painful episode for me and my loved one as it is, don’t take advantage of the situation for political gain. Thank you.”

Stations of the Cross in rhythmic poems

Catholic devotees are invited to a very special episode of the program, The Law of the Heart is Love, over DWBR, 104.3FM, this Saturday (March 23) from 8 to 9 p.m. and Sunday (March 24) from 9 to 10 p.m., where the 14 Stations of the Cross in rhythmic poems will be read by Rev. Fr. Jerry M. Orbos, SVD.  The rhyming poems of the Lord’s suffering on the way to the cross was written in 1952 by the late American poet, James J. Metcalfe, with the Imprimatur of the late Francis Cardinal Spellman, during his incumbency as Archbishop of New York on April 28, 1952.

The program is hosted by election lawyer Romulo “Romy” Macalintal who normally plays love songs and reads love poems with celebrities as guest poem readers.  However, in time for these interrelated seasons of Lent, Holy Week and Easter, Romy’s episode for this week will try to memorialize the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ through the heart-rending rhythmic poems of the Stations of the Cross which he said will be first in the history of radio programming as it will be aired and heard for the first time on radio.

The entire proceeds generated by the program from its various sponsors directly go to the scholarship program of Mission Guided by Mary Foundation which now supports 650 poor elementary and high school students of various Catholic parishes nationwide.

To ensure a more meditated pondering of this special Lenten episode, Romy shares with his listeners the entire text of the Stations of the Cross which they could read or recite together with Fr. Orbos as it is read on the air.

Romy sincerely hopes and prays that through this special episode we could be closer to God to strengthen our faith and instill in us the spiritual value of prayer, penitence, alms-giving and self-denial during these interconnected seasons of Lent, Holy Week and Easter.

Here’s The First Station: Jesus Is Condemned to Death

Lord Jesus Christ, You died for me, You gave Your every breath,

It was not Pilate- it was I, who sentenced You to death.

My sins condemned You to the cross, as surely on that day,

As if I had pronounced myself, that You be put away.

Dear Jesus, please forgive me all, the sins that stain my soul,

Condemn me not as I condemned, but make me clean and whole.

Allow me now to follow You, along Your journey sad,

And to repent the wayward life, and pleasures I have had.

Let me take up the cross with You, in deep sincerity,

And let me walk beside You on the road to Calvary.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)